Chapter 466: Fear as a Guide

"A sword clang?"

Sword-bearer Gu Qingyi stepped on the bones scattered everywhere, slightly furrowing his brows, and looked into the distance. The plain gray sword in his embrace buzzed joyfully, as if immensely excited to have found its old opponent.

At this point, Gu Qingyi finally confirmed his suspicions.

"A renowned sword is actually appearing within the White Cave?"

"This place is neither an ancient site of predecessors, and the entire dimensional space itself has only appeared a few years ago."

"How could a renowned sword appear here?"

Though myriad doubts filled his mind, after pressing down on the sword ripple in the void and taking a slight sniff, Gu Qingyi's expression still subtly changed.

"Yanmang?"

Such an intense flame aura, among the twenty-one renowned swords, it could only be 'Yanmang,' ranked third! But how could Yanmang appear here?

Gu Qingyi pondered in confusion. He even remembered that the last time this renowned sword appeared was hundreds of years ago. Even the historical records of its previous wielder were vague, only vaguely recalling a fire-elemental Spirit Refiner.

"Is it a Sacred Emperor?"

Gu Qingyi was puzzled. In the Sword Mausoleum, the records of all renowned sword wielders are exceptionally clear. Only for those Sacred Emperor powerhouses... Not just Sacred Emperors among sword cultivators, but Sacred Emperors of all paths in the world – their records are all zero.

Gu Qingyi remembered this very clearly. He had even specifically sought out his master for this matter before. But the only answer he received was, "Heavenly secrets are veiled."

If it were a normal process, Gu Qingyi couldn't possibly forget Yanmang's previous wielder. Because the Sword Mausoleum records the historical facts of these renowned swords. However, if it's a Sacred Emperor powerhouse, coupled with "heavenly secrets being veiled," then perhaps it could be understood.

"It's still very strange."

"If it's 'heavenly secrets being veiled,' then it's even more impossible for Yanmang to appear in this small place."

"The personal sword of a Sacred Emperor..."

"For a mere White Cave to have one 'You Si Sword' is already an unprecedented event; how could there possibly be another renowned sword like this?"

Gu Qingyi slowly descended from the pile of bones, gazing in the direction where the sword ripple spread, lost in thought.

"Could it be that a renowned sword lost in the void's shattered currents collided with the White Cave's minor world, and thus appeared here?"

"But that probability is even smaller than a renowned sword falling from the sky!"

He silently looked up, his brows furrowing even tighter this time.

'You Si Sword' plus 'Yanmang'... If all of this is coincidence, then he has nothing to say. But having been trained by his master to think from the perspective of a chess player, Gu Qingyi felt that this matter was absolutely not that simple. This sword definitely did not appear normally!

Despite this, he still felt a considerable urge and slightly lifted his foot, but then slowly put it back down. He turned back. In another direction, an even more terrifying and ominous aura spread, emitting a fatal temptation. The ominous sword, You Si Sword!

"If nothing unexpected happens, Junior Disciple Brother should not dare to defy master's orders and will continue to follow the target."

"However, given Second Disciple Brother's temperament, he probably won't be able to resist."

"Since he's going there, then I don't need to make an extra effort."

Nodding slightly, Gu Qingyi continued to firm his resolve and walked towards the You Si Sword, but each step was hesitant.

Ultimately, he still didn't believe this renowned sword would appear so bizarrely in the White Cave. But if he were to truly consider the unrealistic thoughts in his mind... "Who threw this sword?"

Meanwhile, on the other side. Deep within a dark mine, Gu Qing'er and Gu Qing'san, each wielding two swords and covered in dust, stopped what they were doing.

Large quantities of Phantom Crystals were scattered around them. These were excellent materials for refining artifacts. Just using them to make a rough blank might be equivalent to a sixth-grade spirit sword. If further purified by a skilled refiner, fifth-grade, or even fourth-grade, throne-level spirit swords could be forged.

And there were so many Phantom Crystals here. It's conceivable that after this round of mining, they would each likely have one or two fourth-grade spirit swords.

Even so, after the sound of the sword clang, they still stopped their movements and exchanged glances.

"Second Disciple Brother, if I heard correctly, was that a renowned sword?" Gu Qing'san, covered in dust, expressed his complete shock.

They came to the White Cave only for the You Si Sword. Discovering a Phantom Crystal mine was already an unexpected bonus. Who would have thought that this desolate place would also have a renowned sword appearing? How could this White Cave be an ordinary dimensional space? This is practically a rare treasure trove!

Gu Qing'er was trembling all over. With a clang, he sheathed the two spirit swords back into the sword wheel on his back, then gently drew 'Peerless Enchantress' from the center of the sword wheel. He dared not slide open the scabbard, but the subtle tremor from the sword within already indicated that his thoughts were not wrong in the slightest.

"A renowned sword!"

He nodded emphatically.

Gu Qing'san hesitated, looking at the two spirit swords in his hands. "Second Disciple Brother, the mission Master gave us was for the You Si Sword."

"We're wasting time mining here; if Eldest Disciple Brother finds out, we'll certainly face punishment."

"And now, if we're going for that renowned sword..."

Gu Qing'er slapped Gu Qing'san's shoulder and said gravely, "Junior Disciple Brother, do you know my dream?"

Gu Qing'san's face hardened. He looked at the sword wheel on Second Disciple Brother's back, thinking to himself, 'You really dare to dream big. Even Eldest Disciple Brother wouldn't dare say he wants nine renowned swords, yet you're actually fantasizing about it.'

"I know, but there are priorities..."

"What's the meaning of life if a person loses their dream?" Gu Qing'er interrupted him, looking up at the sky in an old-fashioned manner, only for crystal shards from above to get into his eyes. He sighed, enduring the stinging in his eyes, and continued to lecture:

"If a sword cultivator loses their path of the sword in their heart, how can they advance bravely?"

Gu Qing'san's expression turned serious. He bowed and clasped his fists, saying, "Second Disciple Brother is right to lecture. I support you; go, retrieve the renowned sword that belongs to you!"

"You still haven't understood what I mean." Gu Qing'er shook his head. "When a renowned sword appears, it will undoubtedly cause a huge commotion, and at that time, I'm afraid the entire White Cave will be in turmoil."

"Eldest Disciple Brother knows my dream, and Master also knows my dream."

"They will definitely support me in seeking the sword!"

"So?" Gu Qing'san tilted his head, not understanding his senior disciple brother's meaning.

"Alas." Gu Qing'er's eye twitched, and he sighed helplessly. "You still don't get it?"

"To put it plainly, by the time I get there, there will certainly be many more people trying to snatch the sword."

"If it were just me alone..."

He didn't continue speaking. Junior Disciple Brother wasn't stupid; he could understand this much. For words that are difficult to say, it's better to say half and leave half unspoken, to save face for everyone.

Gu Qing'san suddenly understood. "But Senior Disciple Brother, if I go with you, Master's orders..."

"Tell me, what would Eldest Disciple Brother's reaction be if he knew you were with me at first, but in the end, only I died alone by the renowned sword?" Gu Qing'er's face was filled with sorrow.

Gu Qing'san instantly felt a chill down his spine. "Second Disciple Brother, you're joking. You're so powerful, how could you possibly die?"

"Die? Why wouldn't I?" Gu Qing'er smiled and held the 'Peerless Enchantress' in his hand a little higher. In the dim mine shaft, that eerie crimson hue was even more unnerving.

"Have you forgotten how this sword was obtained?"

Gu Qing'san fell silent. He seemed to see again the scene of thousands vying for it, flocking to it, only to leave behind mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, where bodies floated like logs.

'Peerless Enchantress'... It truly lives up to its name! That night was the first time Gu Qing'san saw Eldest Disciple Brother draw his sword, and also the first time he saw Eldest Disciple Brother wounded. When on the brink of death, it was solely by Eldest Disciple Brother unleashing that final, peerless ice lotus capable of suppressing all ages that everything finally returned to peace.

"I'll go with you!"

Gu Qing'san nodded solemnly. The White Cave couldn't possibly repeat such a tragedy. After all, if a renowned sword erupts within a dimensional space, the number of people who can come to contend for it will certainly not be many. But as long as it's a renowned sword, 'not many' is only relative.

"For the dream!" Gu Qing'er waved his hand, collected the Phantom Crystal mine on the ground, and flew out of the cave.

"For Second Disciple Brother's dream!" Gu Qing'san gritted his teeth and flew to follow.

"A renowned sword."

Within the chest of an ordinary-looking man, a low voice suddenly emerged. Tap, tap. The man's steps remained unchanged as he walked along the mountain forest path, leaving behind trails of decaying black marks.

"Zhong Qu, a renowned sword!" The low voice reappeared, now tinged with suppressed anger.

The man named Zhong Qu finally stopped. He let out a sinister chuckle, "Didn't you say you only wanted the 'You Si Sword'?"

"I've already come all this way, and now you're telling me you want a renowned sword too?"

"That's for your use!" the low voice retorted.

"Oh, for my use?" Zhong Qu chuckled mockingly, "You certainly talk pretty. If it were really for my use, would I be in this state now?"

"Don't think I don't know what you did after taking over my body last time!"

"That was just an accident." The voice from within his chest softened a little.

Zhong Qu remained silent and continued to walk forward. "A renowned sword!" The voice grew louder again. At the same time, a faint stinging pain emanated from within his chest.

"Pfft!" Zhong Qu suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his forward steps halting. After taking a deep breath, he returned the way he came.

"Last time."

"Where's Lu Ke?" Within the red-robed team, Xin suddenly turned his head and looked behind.

"He's... gone." Another person behind swept with their spiritual sense and indeed couldn't see him.

"Damn it."

"That guy must have been attracted by that damned thing too. Doesn't he already have one..."

Xin gritted his teeth and looked at the elder beside him. "Shou Ye, you keep an eye on the team. I'll go find him."

"That's a renowned sword appearing; how dare he?" Shou Ye nodded slowly.

"Go."

"A renowned sword?" Luo Leilei looked at her brother, Lei Shuangxing, beside her.

"Mm." Lei Shuangxing probed the path with his cane, moving forward quickly, as if the sword ripple burst earlier had nothing to do with him.

Luo Leilei grew curious. "That's a renowned sword. Aren't you tempted?"

Her gaze fell upon Lei Shuangxing's Spirit-Draining Cane. No ancient sword cultivator would give up such an opportunity. Even if he already possessed his first renowned sword.

"If a renowned sword changes hands in the White Cave, won't it still end up in the Head Seat's hands once we leave?" Lei Shuangxing paused his steps, then continued on without even turning his head. "He's coming."

Luo Leilei was taken aback.

"Oh, right."

Things like this, where the outcome can be predicted in advance, are truly boring!

Across the White Cave, many factions had their plans altered after being drawn by the renowned sword. Not just the major sword cultivators, but also disciples of the Spirit Palace and some ordinary noble family scions. Whether they knew about the renowned sword or not, they all intended to investigate the unusual phenomenon, hoping to broaden their horizons. For a time, people from all corners of the world converged, with the renowned sword as the central point.

Xu Xiaoshou landed in front of the renowned sword Yanmang. By this time, he could clearly see the sword's outline. This was a sword with an extremely exaggerated appearance. It could be said that Xu Xiaoshou had never seen such a design before. From hilt to guard, it resembled a winding python coiled up, opening its throat at the sword's mouth. The blade itself was like a snake's tongue protruding from the python's mouth.

As black and red magma dripped down, the void itself seemed to warp from the intense heat, unable to bear the blade's formidable temperature.

"Such intense flame aura..." With just one glance, Xu Xiaoshou dared to say that there were very few fire-elemental objects in the world that could contend with this sword. Even though he was currently at the Grandmaster level, he wasn't even sure he could pick up the renowned sword before him.

Hiss. The pillar of molten light finally dissipated under their gaze. As the light faded, the magma on the Yanmang sword also stopped dripping, and the monstrous python body seemed to instantly cool, solidifying inch by inch.

Immediately afterwards, the snake-tongue blade also cooled down. The entire sword transformed from its flamboyant, exaggerated, and fearsome appearance into a dark red sword. While its design remained stunning, it was undoubtedly a notch below its previous state. Even its power seemed to have weakened slightly.

Xu Xiaoshou furrowed his brows. "This is..."

"Renowned sword's self-concealment," Yu Zhiwen explained. "The power unleashed by a renowned sword is too immense; it possesses the might to tear apart an entire minor world."

"Therefore, the moment it appears, it will inevitably be sealed by heaven and earth."

"This is the 'Renowned Sword's Heavenly Concealment.'"

She paused, then added, "What ancient sword cultivators refer to as 'Integration: Heavenly Liberation' is the unleashing of this very power."

"What about 'self-concealment'...?" Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled.

"'Self-concealment' refers to a second layer of seal that a renowned sword undergoes after it appears."

"By this point, it has fully appeared. As weapons of disaster, these renowned swords are sentient."

"They know that if they fully display their outstanding appearance and power, they will surely provoke widespread contention."

"That is how disasters arise."

"Therefore, for their own safety and the safety of the world, under the guidance of the Heavenly Dao, renowned swords undergo this process of 'self-concealment.'"

"So that's how it is." Xu Xiaoshou suddenly understood.

Yu Zhiwen paused, a hesitant look in her eyes. "There's something I don't know if I should say."

"Tell me. At this point, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't possibly not listen."

"I think..." Yu Zhiwen looked at Yanmang, which had cooled down and transformed back into its dark red sword form, and slowly said, "I find it a bit strange that it appeared here."

"Oh?" Xu Xiaoshou could sense that the appearance of the renowned sword earlier must have attracted many people, but he wasn't anxious. "Why do you say that?"

"I don't know either." Yu Zhiwen shook her head, hesitating to speak, but finally said, "It might be intuition, or it might be a misconception."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

To be honest, he had always believed in intuition. He didn't used to. But when Spirit Refiners align with the Heavenly Dao, sometimes their intuition is practically foresight. However, to abandon the renowned sword right before him just for a mere "strange" feeling...

Xu Xiaoshou felt that he couldn't possibly do it. Or rather, there was simply no one in this world who could. "There are no instructions..." Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the information panel. No special prompts. He then checked his physical condition. He was in good condition, having recovered to his peak. And abnormalities... Previously, before being ambushed by assassins, he would experience sudden physical abnormalities. Yet, with such a major event occurring now, his condition remained perfectly fine.

Xu Xiaoshou could only conclude that if he didn't take this sword, he must have lost his mind. "It should have cooled down now."

Looking at Yanmang, which had completely quieted down before him, floating in the void, seemingly struggling and trembling but unable to break free from its position, Xu Xiaoshou felt a bit strange. He finally dared to extend his spiritual sense and 'Perception' towards it.

Whoa! In just an instant, an incredibly fitting sensation emerged spontaneously. Without even much waiting, Xu Xiaoshou felt himself transported into the exclusive world of this renowned sword.

This was a world of lava. The color of fire, and nothing not burned – these were its synonyms. Above a scorching sea of lava, a large sword, several zhang in length and width, hung suspended in the void.

This sword was very peculiar. It was like a large cross, with a blade embedded at the bottom. On the horizontally spread guard, three Yanmang serpents hung down from each side. The Yanmang serpents were grotesque, their mouths twitching, with magma dripping and scorching the void. The remaining hilt was formed by the intertwined bodies of six serpents, equally long, almost flush with the blade.

"What a cool sword!" Perhaps it was due to his preconceived notions, knowing that this was a renowned sword. Xu Xiaoshou felt he absolutely adored the sword before him. Its exaggerated design, monstrous aura, and formidable power all deeply struck a chord in his heart.

"Get it!" This thought spontaneously arose in Xu Xiaoshou's mind. At that moment, he didn't even realize that a faint red glow had appeared deep within his eyes.

"Driven, Passive Points, 1."

A message that suddenly popped up on the information panel instantly shattered the illusion. Xu Xiaoshou was startled. He blinked rapidly, thinking he had seen it wrong. However, the fact was that information on the information panel would not refresh unless updated again.

"Driven?" Xu Xiaoshou's heart fluttered. A renowned sword, driving him to take it? Did it also feel a strong compatibility with him and want him to become its wielder?

"No!" His pupils sharply contracted; Xu Xiaoshou realized something was wrong. This was completely impossible!

Everyone, subconsciously, sees themselves as a chosen one. Any good or wonderful thing that happens to them is immediately rationalized. But reality couldn't be like that.

There were plenty of fire-elemental sword cultivators in the world; there were absolutely many more suitable to become Yanmang's wielder than him. And would a renowned sword be one that hadn't seen the world? Would it not know that he was merely an ant, or perhaps just a slightly more outstanding ant among them? It would definitely know!

This was a renowned sword! How could it humble itself and ask him to become its wielder?!

"Driven..." Xu Xiaoshou carefully pondered these two words. This word appeared on the information panel for the first time. If it had been words like "guidance" or "direction," Xu Xiaoshou felt the problem might not have been so significant. But... Driven? A derogatory term? Someone wants to drive me to take this sword?

"Something's off!" Xu Xiaoshou, alarmed, took a step back and looked at Yu Zhiwen, thinking, 'A woman's sixth sense really is accurate.'

Yu Zhiwen, feeling bewildered by his gaze, blushed and slightly tilted her head. "What is it?"

"Nothing..." Xu Xiaoshou replied unconsciously, his gaze returning to the 'Yanmang' blade.

Was he overthinking it? Is there someone here? No! And he had personally watched the renowned sword's appearance from start to finish, step by step. From its completion of refining deep within the dimensional space to its emergence from the earth, the entire process was very logical! Even though everything seemed flawless, Xu Xiaoshou still dared not be careless.

There weren't many things he couldn't figure out, but each one was at least on the level of Elder Sang. As for renowned swords, perhaps they could no longer be measured by his own thoughts alone. Items of this caliber, even if not sentient beings, could already be important chess pieces in the eyes of great powers. Once he touched it, he might be drawn into some unknown vortex.

"What was this strangeness you spoke of?" Xu Xiaoshou looked at Yu Zhiwen.

Yu Zhiwen had only mentioned it casually, not expecting Xu Xiaoshou to actually take it to heart. With such persistent questioning, she too began to think more deeply.

"How could Yanmang be in the White Cave?"

"I recall this place only opened a few years ago, didn't it?"

"Once a renowned sword loses its wielder and returns to be refined by heaven and earth, the time required can range from decades to hundreds or even thousands of years."

"Honestly, it shouldn't be appearing at this moment."

Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's somewhat solemn expression, Yu Zhiwen paused, then added, "But the You Si Sword shouldn't have appeared here either, yet it did, so..."

"I don't know anything; just take it as me talking nonsense."

Yu Zhiwen was afraid her words would influence Xu Xiaoshou's judgment, making him mistakenly think she didn't want him to take the sword. After all, the renowned sword was right before them. Saying it couldn't possibly appear was simply absurd.

Xu Xiaoshou, however, slightly clenched his fist. He once again extended his spiritual sense to the blade, and the feeling of falling into the renowned sword's illusion returned. A craving, originating from who knew where, grew deeper and deeper. "Get it!"

At the same time, "Driven, Passive Points, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou's mind wavered, and he escaped the illusion. A chill ran down his spine, and his entire body was drenched in cold sweat. "It wasn't a misconception!"

"There really was someone driving him, and the information panel had verified it?"

Xu Xiaoshou was terrified. This great terror stemming from the unknown was even more frightening than that time, late one quiet night by Swan Lake, when he inexplicably turned around and glimpsed Elder Sang's ghostly face. He was scared. Even though his 'Perception' could see all around, he still involuntarily turned his head. The wind whistled. Gravel crunched. In front of him, there was nothing.

"Damn it, am I scaring myself?" Staring fiercely at the 'Yanmang' before him, Xu Xiaoshou felt a frustrating absurdity. The renowned sword was right before his eyes. Was he moved? He dared not move!